Yoga Exercises

There's a vast array of yoga exercises to benefit body, mind and soul.

These spine-twisting, bone-bending and even some heart-pumping activities can be observed in nearly ever fitness studio or health club today.

But the yoga exercises are more than just a means to keep fit...

... they are part of the science of Hatha Yoga, an integrated science of energy cultivation and control which aims to balance the essential polar energies of the being and bring about a state of harmony between the body, mind and emotions.

Modern Yoga - So Many Options!

The explosion in popularity of yoga today has been part of the fuel behind a rapidly changing 'face of yoga'. In an almost ironic twist (no pun intended!), yoga, a profound science of personal growth, transformation and change, has itself been transformed and changed by a growing number of yoga enthusiasts.

Today there are literally hundreds of different approaches to the yoga exercises that have become popular today... and so yoga students can be forgiven if they are confused and unsure about what these yoga exercises are all about.

Certainly much of what is being practiced today under the name of "Yoga" today is the result of a "blending" of yoga exercises with many other philosophies of health and fitness, and not necessarily a reflection of the yoga tradition ...

And so proper guidance by a qualified and experienced teacher is a necessity for the understanding and proper use of these powerful tools for health and evolution.

The Yoga Exercises

The yoga exercises can be grouped in various forms, which includes warm-up exercises (known as jattis), asanas, kriyas, and pranayamas, along with additional, more advanced practices known as bhandas and mudras.

Here are some practices that are an important part of the foundation of all yoga styles that have their basis in the hatha yoga tradition:

Warm-up Exercises

Sitting Jattis-s - warm-up exercises in the seated position
Standing Jatti-s - warm-up exercises in the standing position

Asanas

Ardha Matsyendra Asana - the spinal twist
Ardha Padma Asana - the half-lotus
Baddha Kona Asana - the bound angle posture
Bhujanga Asana - the cobra pose
Chakra Asana - the wheel posture
Danda Asana - the stick pose
Dhanur Asana - the bow pose
Dharmika Asana - the devotional posture
Gomukha Asana - the cow’s face posture
Gulpha Vajra Asana
Hala Asana - the plough posture
Janu Shirsha Asana - the knee to forehead posture
Maha Mudra - the mighty tidal gesture
Manduka Asana - the frog posture
Matsya Asana - the fish postures
Nataraj Asana - the dance of Shiva
Nikunja Asana - the flower bower posture
Padahastasana - the hand to foot position
Padma Asana - the lotus posture
Parshva Kona Asana - the side-angle posture
Parvat Asana - the mountain pose
Paryanka Asana - the saddle posture
Paschmottanasana - the back stretch position
Pavana Muktasana - the wind release position
Prasaritottana Asana - the side leg stretch
Pratipa Hala Asana - the reverse plough posture
Rathacharya Asana - the posture of the charioteer
Sama Pada Asana - the equal foot posture
Sama Sthiti Asana - the posture of equal balance
Samkatha Asana - the equal hip posture
Sarvanga Asana - the shoulder stand
Sethu Bandha Asana - the bound bridge posture
Shalabha Asana - the locust pose
Sharabha Asana - the griffin posture
Sharpa Asana - the serpent pose
Shasha Asana - the rabbit posture
Shashanga Asana - the crouched posture
Shashanga Veera Asana - the crouched hero posture
Shava Asana - The corpse posture
Siddha Asana - the adept’s posture
Sukha Asana - the easy sitting posture
Supta Vajra Asana - the reclining thunderbolt posture
Swastika Asana - the pose of the Self
Talasana - the palm tree pose
Trikonasana - the triangle pose
Ushthra Asana - the camel posture
Utthitha Vajra Asana - the thunderbolt posture
Utthitha Vira Asana - the posture of the hero
Vakra Asana - the easy spinal twist
VashishtaTapasya - the tapas pose of sage Vashishta
Veera Asana - The hero’s posture
Vrishabha Asana - the bull posture
Yoga Mudra - the gesture of union

Kriyas

Chiri Kriya - the cricket action
Eka Pada Hala Kriya - the single-leg plough action
Kaya Kriya - the whole body cleanse
Pada Vajra Kriya - the ankle loosening exercise
Padottana Kriya - the forward-bending action
Sahaja Agnisara Dhauti - abdominal cleansing massage
Surya Namaskara Kriya - the sun salutation

Pranayamas

Aloma-Viloma Pranayama - the alternate nostril breath
Loma-Viloma Pranayama - the polarizing breaths
Mukha Bhastrika- the cleansing breath
Nadi Shoddhana/Nadi Shuddhi Pranayama - the nerve cleansing breaths
Sahita Pranayama - the regenerating pranayama
Sukha Pranayama - the easy breath
Sukha Purvaka Pranayama – the four stage breath
Surya and Chandra Nadi Pranayama - the sun and moon pranayama
Savitri Pranayama: The rhythmic breath
Vibhagha Pranayama - lobular breathing
Vyaghrah Pranayama - the tiger breath

*Remember... Yoga is much more than a group of physical practices.
For a more comprehensive exploration of yoga, visit our Yoga Training Center...

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